Anatomical Terms

Anterior

aka ventral - closer to front

• toes anerior to ankle

posterior

aka dorsal - closer to back

• heel poserior to toes

superior

aka cranial - up/closer to head

• heart is superior to head

inferior

aka caudal - down/closer to feet

• stomach is inferior to heart

Medial

toward midline/median place

• pinky is on medial side of hand (when palm’s up)

lateral

farther median plane

• thumb is on lateral side of hand (when palm’s up)

proximal

closer to point of origin

• elbow is proximal to wrist as closer to shoulder (origin of arm)

distal

farther from point of origin

• wrist is distal to elbow as its farther from shoulder (origin of arm)

superficial

closer to surface

• muscles of arm is superficial to humerus (bone)

deep

farther from surface

• humerus is deep to arm muscles

median plane

aka midsagittal plane - vertical line that divides body into equal left and right halves

sagittal plane

vertial line that divides body into unequal left and right halves

coronal plane

aka frontal - vertical line that divides body into anterior and posterior parts

transverse plane

horizontal line that divides body into superior and inferior parts

anterior view

look at front side of body

laterial view

side profile of body

flexion

bending movement around joint that decreases joint angle

• bending arm bringing forearm closer to shoulder

extension

movement that increases the angle between 2 body parts

• straightening of joint

abduction

limb moves away from midline

• arm out

adduction

limb moves toward midline

• arm at side

internal rotation

bone turns inward toward centre of body

exernal rotation

bone turns outward away from centre of body